OPTIONS;SUMMER EVENTS WORTH STAYING IN TOWN FOR

August is the month most people leave town. But for those who stay, the month brings an appealing assortment of happenings, and some of the most interesting are a little offbeat.

Light Opera Works and Pegasus Players team up to stage the first fully orchestrated version of Jerome Moross and John Latouche's "The Golden Apple" since its 1954 Broadway debut. The operatic musical (no spoken parts) transports the characters of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to Mount Olympus in Washington in 1910, and William Eckhart has been tapped to re-create the original designs by him and his late wife for the five weekend performances Aug. 19 to 27 at Northwestern University's Cahn Auditorium (600 Emerson St., Evanston, 708/869-6300).

The bizarre musical of the month award goes to the world premiere of Saint Sebastian Players' "Elvicula" on Aug. 16. Timed to coincide with the 18th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, the rock 'n' roll horror show reincarnates him as a vampire. It continues through Halloween at St. Bonaventure Church (1625 W. Diversey Parkway, 312/404-7922), of all places. On a related note, Bub City Crabshack & Bar-B-Q (901 W. Weed St.) is serving up an entertainment-laden "All-Elvis Weekend" Aug. 11 and 12, and the King's favorite foods (or so we're told) all week, Aug. 10 to 18.

If you prefer the Big Band sound to rock 'n' roll, dance after-work tensions away on Aug. 10 to the strains of City Lights Orchestra in the courtyard of Quigley Preparatory Seminary (103 E. Chestnut St., 312/787-9343). Light refreshments will be available.

Links Hall (3435 N. Sheffield Ave., 312/281-0824) presents its sixth annual Chance Dance Fest on Wednesdays throughout the month, with a new work by choreographer Bob Eisen-exploring chance elements, of course-and a different guest artist every week.

Later in the month, the Trinity Irish Dance Company will present "Damhsa" on the Skyline Stage for two performances, Aug. 25 and 26 (call Ticketmaster, 312/902-1500). The title is from the Celtic word for dance, but the program will include dances from Africa and East India, tap and modern dance numbers, as well as traditional and progressive Celtic dances.

Also on the Skyline Stage, Cinema/Chicago (312/644-FILM) wraps up its Cinema Under the Stars 1995 Aug. 8 to 10 with showings-on a big, big screen-of "Some Came Running," "Victor/Victoria" (a great opportunity to compare it with the live production running concurrently at the Shubert Theatre) and "Jules and Jim."

Other film highlights include the Jewish Film Project's premiere of "Tsahal," a five-hour epic exploring Israel's psyche through the prism of its army, at the Skokie Theater (7924 Lincoln Ave.) Aug. 20 and the Film Center of the School of the Art Institute (312/443-3737) Aug. 27.

For a fine late-summer excursion, head to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe (708/835-5440) Aug. 18 to 20 and catch the Mid-America Bonsai Show and Sale, one of the country's largest, with a display of more than 300 bonsai trees. Also at the garden: Monday evening carillon con-certs. The best listening spots are the sensory and English walled gardens.

If you favor particle physics and accelerators, join the Chicago Academy of Sciences' (education department, 312/549-0775) Aug. 19 foray to Argonne National Laboratory, followed by a picnic and stroll through the Waterfall Glen Nature Preserve.